Thought process seems to be that the Cowboys will be contenders in 2015, and the favorites in 2016. You can understand that thought process, but I am one that thinks 2015 might be our better chance to win the league for the following reasons:
1. Schedule - OSU clearly gets the other top 3 teams in the league at home. I do not think you can underestimate this advantage, our biggest conference games are all at home. Huge advantage.
2. Experience - OSU gets the 3 league favorites late in the season, by the end of the 2015 season is there really that much more room for growth for the sophomore and junior classes? After the 2015 season OSU loses Ogbah, Peterson, and Simmons on defense. OSU will lose 2 players on defense that have a great shot at long NFL careers, OSU is not a team that on a consistent basis produces starting NFL talent, losing 2 players of that quality will be hard to replace IMO, we are talking about guys that produce sacks, can shut down one side of the field and produce TO's.
3. Expectations - The pressure the team carries this year will be the positive kind, it will be generated internally and OSU can play the hunter role (and hungry), versus being the favorite and not handling external pressures well, we have seen some OU teams that did not handle high pre-season expectations well. I would think everyone in the conference has TCU and Baylor circled on the calendar, I like flying a little under the radar without the bulls eye on us and playing with a chip on our shoulder and an attitude of making a name for ourselves. I think our team has the highest expectations, but I really like the fact everyone in the media and on campus will not be patting them all on the back and telling them how great they are without accomplishing anything yet. Maybe I am drinking orange kool aid but I love the vibe around the team right now, it feels special, and I believe this another reason Gundy is smiling, not only do we have the talent, but we have the intangibles needed to put together a true team on the field - A unit that can be greater than individual sum of its parts.
4. League Favorite - TCU as some on here have talked very intelligently on, loses a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball. OSU has a great chance of fielding the best defensive team in the league this year, and defense usually wins titles. As good as TCU was last year, they still could not out score Baylor and could not defend a huge lead in the 4th quarter against Baylor. TCU's offense has flash, but the OSU offense will have real substance and it will better compliment an OSU defense that has teeth. TCU with that offense will put a young defense short on depth on the field for 85 plays or more in some games, a recipe for giving up at least 45 points against the good offenses. Gundy better coach than he gets credit for, I like our recipe right now better than TCU's. I like it better both short and long-term. TCU can be beaten in Stillwater, it is not a guaranteed win by any means, but it is not like TCU is clearly the best team. OSU only league team that can pull out the Baylor defensive game plan from 2013 and go with 4 CB's at times and play coverage and win some of those battles straight up and also generate a pass rush without going crazy with the blitz. That happens and the team with the best running game will win, and the team with the best running game will also have the most rested defense in the 4th quarter and I believe that will be OSU.
If the team stays healthy and the breaks (official calls and TO's) fall our way this year, I really like our chances this upcoming season, the team can put itself in the position of playing for the Big 12 title at home in the month of November, the 2016 team most likely will not have that luxury. By the last month of the season guys like Randolph are essentially a junior, we get to play the hunter and with a chip on our shoulder, and the vibe around the players and the coaches that has never felt better, from the 2013 Baylor game we have proven we can shut down a pass happy spread offense with the right pieces, we have those pieces this year.
1. Schedule - OSU clearly gets the other top 3 teams in the league at home. I do not think you can underestimate this advantage, our biggest conference games are all at home. Huge advantage.
2. Experience - OSU gets the 3 league favorites late in the season, by the end of the 2015 season is there really that much more room for growth for the sophomore and junior classes? After the 2015 season OSU loses Ogbah, Peterson, and Simmons on defense. OSU will lose 2 players on defense that have a great shot at long NFL careers, OSU is not a team that on a consistent basis produces starting NFL talent, losing 2 players of that quality will be hard to replace IMO, we are talking about guys that produce sacks, can shut down one side of the field and produce TO's.
3. Expectations - The pressure the team carries this year will be the positive kind, it will be generated internally and OSU can play the hunter role (and hungry), versus being the favorite and not handling external pressures well, we have seen some OU teams that did not handle high pre-season expectations well. I would think everyone in the conference has TCU and Baylor circled on the calendar, I like flying a little under the radar without the bulls eye on us and playing with a chip on our shoulder and an attitude of making a name for ourselves. I think our team has the highest expectations, but I really like the fact everyone in the media and on campus will not be patting them all on the back and telling them how great they are without accomplishing anything yet. Maybe I am drinking orange kool aid but I love the vibe around the team right now, it feels special, and I believe this another reason Gundy is smiling, not only do we have the talent, but we have the intangibles needed to put together a true team on the field - A unit that can be greater than individual sum of its parts.
4. League Favorite - TCU as some on here have talked very intelligently on, loses a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball. OSU has a great chance of fielding the best defensive team in the league this year, and defense usually wins titles. As good as TCU was last year, they still could not out score Baylor and could not defend a huge lead in the 4th quarter against Baylor. TCU's offense has flash, but the OSU offense will have real substance and it will better compliment an OSU defense that has teeth. TCU with that offense will put a young defense short on depth on the field for 85 plays or more in some games, a recipe for giving up at least 45 points against the good offenses. Gundy better coach than he gets credit for, I like our recipe right now better than TCU's. I like it better both short and long-term. TCU can be beaten in Stillwater, it is not a guaranteed win by any means, but it is not like TCU is clearly the best team. OSU only league team that can pull out the Baylor defensive game plan from 2013 and go with 4 CB's at times and play coverage and win some of those battles straight up and also generate a pass rush without going crazy with the blitz. That happens and the team with the best running game will win, and the team with the best running game will also have the most rested defense in the 4th quarter and I believe that will be OSU.
If the team stays healthy and the breaks (official calls and TO's) fall our way this year, I really like our chances this upcoming season, the team can put itself in the position of playing for the Big 12 title at home in the month of November, the 2016 team most likely will not have that luxury. By the last month of the season guys like Randolph are essentially a junior, we get to play the hunter and with a chip on our shoulder, and the vibe around the players and the coaches that has never felt better, from the 2013 Baylor game we have proven we can shut down a pass happy spread offense with the right pieces, we have those pieces this year.
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